Ultimate 2.5 Gen Tow Vehicle

Hello,

I apologize if some of my questions have been asked and answered.

In light of the 2022 3rd gen's release the 2.5 gen remains on my list of potential tow vehicles. I'm looking for the 4WD Tundra trim and model year with the best towing capacity and payload to transport my wife and I and a 23-25' travel trailer. I figured it would be a regular cab and my research showed that Toyota stopped producing them for the 2017 model year. However, I'd also like the largest fuel capacity, which I believe is the 38 gallon tank. I believe the SR5 Package came with the larger tank starting in 2016.

Did the 2016 and 2017 4WD SR5 Regular Cab 5.7L V8 come with the 38 gallon tank? Did they also come with either the 6.5' or the 8' bed or just the 8'?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

The 38 gallon tank wasn't introduced until 2016, I believe. I can't speak for what packages had it in what years, but I can say for certain that all SR5 trucks do NOT have it. This is because SR5 is a Trim, not a package. For example in the 2019 MY SR5 trim you had to get the SR5 Upgrade Package; any SR5 that didn't have that package would have the smaller tank.

Use this tool https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification and plug in a VIN so see what packages a truck has. Then google can tell you what those packages entail.


As for the ratings, just pay attention to the payload rating. You'll blow through that way before you ever hit the max tow rating. Also, don't go off the generic payload ratings from the brochure/internet searches. You need to look in the door jamb of the actual truck, because they all vary.

General rules for the ratings:

1. 2WD will have higher ratings than 4WD
2. Double Cabs will have higher ratings than Crewmax
3. The more features, the lower the ratings
4. Anything you add to the truck drops your payload

 

Thanks very much! I continue to edit my original post as I do more research. So, I think I've narrowed it down to either the 2016 or 2017.
Unfortunately I don't have any VINs. I'm just looking to establish my search criteria when looking for a used Tundra online.

I need a 4WD because the truck will be my year round daily driver here in Canada. The only features I care about are 4WD, automatic, A/C, AM/FM radio, 5.7L V8, large fuel tank. I don't actually care about any other feature.

I would assume that a 2017 4WD 5.7L Regular Cab SR5 Trim with the 38 gallon tank would work best? If that was even produced?

 

I think you would be correct, but that might also be a unicorn.

 

OK, maybe a 2017 4WD 5.7L V8 SR5 DC 6.5' box with the 38 gallon?

 

That will likely yield your best tow rating while also checking your boxes.


Question: Do you already have the trailer or are you shopping for both?

 

No. Shopping for both.

 

Best advice I can give is that, unless you are minimalist campers, you should find the trailer you HAVE to have first. Then you get a truck to fit that.

The Tundra will severely limit your trailer options if you are staying under payload. If you want a 5th wheel, bunches of slide outs, a toy hauler, or anything much over about 22 feet then the Tundra may not be the right truck for you.

If you have a strong preference for the Tundra, and I totally do, I would check out Escape trailers. https://escapetrailer.com/ They aren't cheap, but they last and they are incredibly light.

 

We're looking to replace our 16' Shasta Airflyte with a either a 23 or 25' Airstream. Our current tow vehicle is a 2012 Tacoma DC SR5 V6 4WD.

 

Ah, so you do have a trailer in mind. I know that Airstreams are sweet, but heavy. Again, if you are set on the airstream, build that out first and then see if it will work with a Tundra.

Favored saying around here; "you can't fit 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag, and if you try it's going to be a mess." In that scenario the truck is the back and the trailer is the... well... shit. If you know how much shit you've got, it makes choosing the bag easier.

 

I did and it will. That's why I'm researching Tundras.

 

So like I have said already you are correct that the Regular Cab has the heaviest ratings and that everything added will detract from the ratings including I think the weight of that extra fuel in the tank.

Mine is exactly what you say you want except for the extra large tank.

I thought I wanted the big tank too but on the search for a truck I gave up when getting this close to the goal and decided I am OK without the big tank vs compromising anywhere else with features.

I find the seats to be so hard that I really need to get out and walk it off for 5 minutes anyway before I am desperate for fuel so the same might be the case for you,I cant say for sure.

Have you even found a RCLB up there at all yet?

 

If you are going 23 or 25 foot the Airstream website has 3 models that come in those lengths.

The best case scenario payload for a 2017 Tundra is pictured here. That's with no added items, including silly things like floor mats. Anything that adds weight eats your payload. So your hitch (I'd recommend a WDH) is going to take a bite, along with heavier tires should you upgrade them.



Flying Cloud, International, and Globetrotter are the 3 trailers that Airstreams site list with your chosen length.

The Flying Cloud and International both are listed at the same weights. They say they have a 500-875 lbs. hitch weight with LP and battery, depending on length.

The Globetrotter is a bit heaver with the hitch weight range of 525-885 lbs. based on length.

These are completey stripped down zero option hitch weights for empty trailers. If you add awnings, solar, a microwave, etc. the weights will be going up. If they are dead on accurate with the hitch weights and you don't pack tons of gear you'd theoretically be ok with any of these. Where you'll run into trouble is in the real world truck payload and trailer hitch weight numbers. Almost all truck payload brochure numbers are overly optimistic marketing to sell trucks based on a spec sheet, and the same goes for travel trailers.

 

I think you could still get the RC in 2017 and mine has right at 2K in payload which is a pretty decent difference really.

 

It sounds like you've researched it out pretty solidly, and as long as the numbers aren't off by a huge amount I'd say you should be good. By all accounts Airstreams pull really well, and the weights listed for the trailer aren't anything the Tundra can't drag. A WDH to keep you sitting pretty, and I think you'll be happy. You'll definitely get poor mileage, but that's a small price to pay for a sweet house on wheels.

 

Yes

 

And?????

Does it fit the bill?

 

Don't know if any of them have the 38 gallon tank. Haven't asked yet since we haven't bought the new trailer yet.

 

If they have the VIN posted you can run it to see what packages are on it. Remember that Toyota are nutty and like to change what is in packages year to year, so I'd do a year specific search for what was in the packages that come up for you.

 

Thanks for the tip. I haven't noticed any online postings with VINs but I can always ask when I get more serious about buying. In the meantime I was hoping I could figure out what trim would work best so I didn't have to ask every seller.

 

Yeah, unfortunately the tank size is a package rather than a trim. The other challenge is that the 2.5 gen tundra fuel tanks are quite long, and that caused lots of people to complain thinking that Toyota somehow screwed everyone by advertising tanks with inaccessible gallons. If you search a little you can find people ranting that their fuel light came on and they could only fit 30-32 gallons of fuel, so they think they've been swindled. If your seller is one of these then when you ask if it has the 38 gallon tank they might say no thinking that they are helping out out by being honest, when in reality they are just confused.